Exercise device

ABSTRACT

An exercise device is disclosed. The exercise device includes a planar base having a top side, and a stem mounted on the top side of the base and having a clamp. The exercise device further includes a handlebar mounted in the clamp at an axis parallel to the top side of the base. The handlebar has ends extending at an upsweep and a backsweep relative to the axis. In this configuration, the exercise device is accommodative of particular anatomical arrangements, such as hand position, and improves the performance of a pushup by a user, especially for sports-specific training.

BACKGROUND

A pushup is one of the most basic forms of strength-building exercises.In its basic form, the pushup includes putting oneself in a position oflying flat on one's front side with the hands palm-side-down under theshoulders, and pushing one's body up off the floor until the arms arestraight. The basic pushup, however, causes the hands to bend backwardsrelative to the arm and puts a great deal of strain on one's wrists.

Many devices exist to improve the basic pushup exercise. Some of thesedevices include two handles, one for each hand and usually in aninverted U-shape configuration, that enable a user to keep their wristsstraight while grasping a handle to perform a pushup. Other devicesinclude a straight bar that the user can grasp at each end to perform apushup at a slight height above a resting surface.

SUMMARY

An exercise device for performing a pushup is disclosed. The exercisedevice, in accordance with various embodiments, includes a handlebarhaving handles that are swept up and back from an axis that is parallelto a plane of a resting surface, which axis is also perpendicular to anaxis running from the feet through the head of a user in a restingposition on the resting surface.

In one aspect, an exercise device includes a planar base having a topside, and a handlebar connected with the base at an axis parallel to thetop side of the base. The handlebar has ends extending at an upsweep anda backsweep relative to the axis.

In another aspect, an exercise device includes a planar base having atop side, and a stem mounted on the top side of the base. The stemincludes a clamp. The exercise device further includes a handlebarhaving a middle portion and two side portions. The middle portion ismounted in the clamp, and each side portion has at least one bend, ormore preferably is formed as a compound angle, to position the end ofthe side portion at an upsweep and a backsweep relative to an axis thatis parallel to the top side of the base and that extends horizontallythrough the middle portion of the handlebar.

The exercise devices disclosed herein has advantages of being moreanatomically accommodating to a user, and simple to assemble. Theexercise devices reduce stress on a user's wrists, and improve thequality and muscle-building function of a pushup exercise. The exercisedevice disclosed herein is also well-suited for sports-specifictraining, such as for cycling, for example.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanyingdrawings and the description below. Other features and advantages willbe apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects will now be described in detail with referenceto the following drawings.

FIG. 1A is a top-down view of an exercise device.

FIG. 1B is a side view of an exercise device.

FIGS. 2A-D show different views of an exemplary exercise device that canbe used for performing a pushup.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This document describes various embodiments of an exercise device forperforming a pushup exercise. FIG. 1A is a top-down view and FIG. 1B isa side view of an exercise device 100. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, theexercise device 100 includes a planar base 102 having a top side 103,and a handlebar 104 connected with the base 102 at an axis a that isparallel to the top side 103 of the base 102 and perpendicular to anaxis from the feet through the head of a user using the exercise device100.

The handlebar 104 includes ends 106 that extend from the handlebar 104at an upsweep and a backsweep relative to the axis α. The upsweep is anangle μ that is between 1 and 45 degrees, and the backsweep is an angleβ that is between 1 and 45 degrees. In a preferred exemplary embodiment,angle μ and angle β are between 3 and 15 degrees. The ends 106 caninclude handgrips, such as foam or rubber grips that are slid onto eachend 106, that a user can grasp when executing a pushup with the exercisedevice 100.

Embodiments of an exercise device 100 further include a stem 108 that isconnected with the base 102, preferably on a central region of the topside 103 of the base 102. The stem 108 can include a clamp 110, in whicha center portion 105 of the handlebar 104 is mounted and clamped, toposition equal-sized side portions 107 of the handlebar 104 on oppositesides of the stem 108. The stem 108 can be attached to the base 102 byone or more screws or bolts; likewise, the clamp 110 can clamp down onthe handlebar 104 by one or more screws or bolts. Each side portion 107can be formed into a compound angle, for structural integrity as well asprovide the desired anatomically-correct position for handgrips.

The base 102 is preferably made of planarized, rigid material, such asaluminum, steel, hardened plastic, or a composite fiber material such ascarbon kevlar or the like. The handlebar 104 is preferably made of atubular, rigid material such as aluminum, steel, hardened plastic orcomposite fiber or the like. The handlebar 104 can include one or morebends that are formed on each side portion 107 to place the ends 106 inthe backsweep and upsweep orientation. Likewise, the stem 108 and itsclamp 110 is preferably made of a rigid supportive material such asaluminum, steel, carbon kevlar, etc.

FIGS. 2A-D show different views of an exemplary exercise device 200. Theexercise device 200 includes a planar base 202, a handlebar 204 mountedwith the base 202, and ends 206 of the handlebar 204 arranged at anupsweep and a backsweep relative to an axis a shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C.The handlebar 204 can be mounted in a clamp 210 that is provided on astem 208 that in turn is connected to the top surface of the base 202.

The handlebar 204 includes one or more bends 205 on each side, toprovide structural strength and rigidity for the handlebar 204, and alsoto arrange the ends 206 at the upsweep and backsweep orientations. Theends 206 of the handlebar 204 can include a hand grip or other mechanismthat a user can grasp in order to perform a pushup.

Although a few embodiments have been described in detail above, othermodifications are possible. For example, the handlebar can be mounteddirectly to the planar base. Alternatively, the handlebar can be formedof two pieces, each being mounted to the planar base to provide an endin an upsweep and backsweep as described above. Other embodiments may bewithin the scope of the following claims.

1. An exercise device comprising: a planar base having a top side; ahandlebar connected with the base at an axis parallel to the top side ofthe base, the handlebar having ends extending at an upsweep and abacksweep relative to the axis.
 2. An exercise device in accordance withclaim 1, wherein the handlebar is connected with the base by a stemmounted on the top side of the base.
 3. An exercise device in accordancewith claim 2, wherein the stem includes a clamp in which the handlebaris mounted and aligned with the axis.
 4. An exercise device inaccordance with claim 1, wherein the handlebar further includes ahandgrip on each end.
 5. An exercise device in accordance with claim 1,wherein each end of the handlebar includes two bends.
 6. An exercisedevice in accordance with claim 1, wherein the upsweep and the backsweepeach have an angle of between 1 and 45 degrees.
 7. An exercise devicecomprising a planar base having a top side; a stem mounted on the topside of the base and having a clamp; a handlebar mounted in the clamp atan axis parallel to the top side of the base, the handlebar having endsextending at an upsweep and a backsweep relative to the axis.
 8. Anexercise device in accordance with claim 7, wherein the handlebarfurther includes a handgrip on each end.
 9. An exercise device inaccordance with claim 7, wherein each end of the handlebar includes twobends.
 10. An exercise device in accordance with claim 7, wherein theupsweep and the backsweep each have an angle of between 1 and 45degrees.
 11. An exercise device comprising a planar base having a topside; a stem mounted on the top side of the base, the stem having aclamp; a handlebar having a middle portion and two side portions, themiddle portion being mounted in the clamp, and each side portion havingat least one bend to position an end of the side portion at an upsweepand a backsweep relative to an axis parallel to the top side of the baseand extending horizontally through the middle portion of the handlebar.12. An exercise device in accordance with claim 11, wherein thehandlebar further includes a handgrip on each end of each side portion.13. An exercise device in accordance with claim 11, wherein each sideportion of the handlebar is formed in a compound angle to form theupsweep and backsweep of each end.
 14. An exercise device in accordancewith claim 11, wherein the upsweep and the backsweep each have an angleof between 1 and 45 degrees.